PATHS OF HEART

34

As the laughter faded, the warmth of the family moment lingered in the room. The movie continued playing, but no one was paying much attention anymore. Everyone was still basking in the joy of the baby's first kick, a milestone that had made the night even more special. Anuj, still lying on Anupama's lap, couldn't stop smiling. His hand rested gently on her belly, where he had felt the baby move for the first time. It was a feeling he would never forget—a tiny connection to the new life growing inside her.

Anika, now more curious than ever, kept glancing at her mother's stomach, as if expecting the baby to start dancing along with the characters in the movie again. She was full of energy, her playful innocence lighting up the room. Every now and then, she would poke Anupama's belly softly and giggle, whispering, "Baby, wake up!" as if she could call her sibling into action.

Anupama looked down at Anika, her heart swelling with affection. "Anika, the baby needs to rest, just like you," she said softly, running her fingers through her daughter's soft hair.

"Rest? But baby just danced!" Anika said, her wide eyes blinking with confusion.

Anuj chuckled. "Yes, the baby danced, but now it's time for some sleep. Just like how you dance and play, but then you need to sleep too."

Anika seemed to ponder this for a moment, her small fingers toying with one of her toys absentmindedly. "Okay, Papa. Baby can sleep, but when baby wakes up, I'll teach 'Shava Shava'!" She declared confidently, her serious expression making everyone laugh again.

Meera, sitting on the sofa nearby, shook her head with a smile. "This girl is already planning her little dance troupe, I see."

Rajesh leaned back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest. "Well, at least we know we'll have two little dancers in the family. Anika will be a great big sister, won't she?"

The conversation moved back and forth between light teasing and heartfelt joy as the movie played on in the background. Occasionally, the sound of Shah Rukh Khan's deep voice or Kajol's melodious laugh would cut through the chatter, adding to the cozy, familiar ambiance of the room.

Anuj, still nestled comfortably in Anupama's lap, couldn't help but reflect on how perfect everything felt in that moment. The baby's kick had not only connected him to his unborn child but also deepened the bond between him and Anupama. He looked up at her, her face glowing with happiness, and couldn't resist speaking his thoughts aloud.

"You know," he began, his voice soft and sincere, "I never imagined feeling this way. When we found out you were pregnant again, I was happy, but this... this feeling, of being so close to our baby already, it's incredible."

Anupama smiled down at him, her eyes filled with the same emotion. "It is, isn't it? Every little moment, every milestone... it just makes everything feel more real. And knowing that we're all together for this journey—it's more than I could've hoped for."

Anuj reached up and gently touched her cheek. "I'm so grateful for you, Anu. For our family. For everything."

Their shared moment of intimacy was briefly interrupted by Anika, who had climbed up onto Anuj's legs again and was now trying to balance one of her toys on his stomach. "Papa, no move! I'm building!" she instructed, her tiny brows furrowed with concentration.

Anuj glanced at his daughter and stifled a laugh. "Oh, I see. I'm a building site now, am I?"

"Uh-huh," Anika confirmed without looking up, carefully placing another toy on top of the growing pile.

Anupama watched them with a mixture of amusement and affection. Anuj had always been such a hands-on father, playful and patient, and watching him with Anika filled her with love every single time. She reached down and lightly ruffled Anika's hair. "What are you building, sweetheart?"